Jewelry clasp



July 14, '1931. T. A. MOUNTFORD JEWELRY CLASP Filed Sept. 17, 1950 INVENTOR By A itorneys, W

Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES THOMAS A. lvrouivrronn, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 BLANCARD & oo.,'

PATENT OFFICE ING.,. OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY JEWELRY CLASP I .Applicationfiled September 17,1930. Serial No. 482,407.

The present invention relates to jewelry clasps, and aims to provide certain improvements therein. More particularly it relates to a jewelry clasp ofthe type comprising a flattened, box-"like structure open at its end, whereat it is formed with a cross-piece or bar 'connectingthe-top and bottom together, and

with oppositely-disposed abutments or posts in spaced relationjto'said crossbar adapted to cooperate with a pair of shoulders or detents on a resilient hook-like snap element, one armjof which" is first threaded through said cross-bar." I j In ewelry clasps of the type described heretofore proposed, the endcross-bars and the posts are usually formed integrally with the bottom elementof the clasp, and the top element of the clasp is soldered orswaged to said posts. In clasps embodying the s'waged construction the structure'is not entirely satisfactory because (1) it is weak," due to the limited engagement between the posts and the top of the clasp; and (2) because of the impracticability of forming the top and the bottom elements to look alike. In clasps embodying the soldered construction the second of the preceding deficiencies is overcome, but the first deficiency is stillpr'esent due to the fact that the'solderingsoftens the metal, thus weakening the'resulting article. Moreover, the cost of this latter construction, due to the soldering operation, is substantially greater than the swaged' construction.

According to the present invention I over-- come the deficiencies noted inthe'prior con structions bv formingthe side wall of the clasp as a separate element and uniting the top and the bottom elements thereto bv having 'complemental'parts on said elements swaged one over the other. In practice I prefer to form the side element with out wardly-extending flanges on its upper and lower edges and form both the top and bottom elements with inwardly-directed flanges. which, in the assembling operation. are caused to interlock aro undthe flanges on the side element. I also prefer to make the top and the bottom elements identical in form and design and thus produce a clasp which is ofbetter appearance while at the same time pro viding a saving in the manufacturing cost because only a single set of forming dies will thereby, be necessary. The invention also embodies other features of novelty which will 7 be apparent from the detailed description which follows. i 1 1 Y I Certain preferred embodiments of my in vention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the manner in which the top and bottom elements of the clasp are stamped from a sheet of metal.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a somewhat enlarg ed scale of one of the top or bottom elements of the clasp. i v i I Fig. 3 is. a longitudinal section taken along the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are a plan view and sectional view, respectively, of a stamping from which 7 the side element of the clasp is formed.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar respectively to Figs. 4 and 5, showing a somewhat diiferent design of side element.

- Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken along the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 9 and 10 are a top plan view and side elevation, respectively, of a side element after being formed from the stamping shown in Fig. 6. p I

Fig.'11 shows a-tranverse section of the relative positions of the top,bottom and side elements prior .to their assembly.-

Fig. 12 isa top plan view partly broken away, showing a completed clasp and its cooperating snap link. I

Figs. 13 and 14 are transverse sections taken alongthe planes of the lines 13, 13 and erably of oblong shape and which may have any desired ornamentation on the face thereof, is provided at its lateral edges with inturned flanges a, said flanges being cut away at the extreme ends of the axis of the oblong, as shown at a to provide a clearance when said flanges are bent inwardly toward each other.

The side element B is formed from a perforated metal stamping D provided with outwardly-directed continuous flanges (Z at its longitudinal edges. The openings or perforations d in said stamping may beof anydesired configuration butpreferably are so spaced as to provide posts d at predetermineddistances apart so thatwhen the blank is bent to oblong form, as shown in Fig- 9, a post Z will be located at the ends of the major axis of said oblong for a purpose as will presently appear; In Figs. L and 5..certain of the perforations d" have asubstantially wide, solid walld therebetween, whereas in Figs. 6 and 7, posts (Z and (Z? of substantially the same width are the only connecting means between the flanges (Z. The constructionshown in Fig. 4; with the large amount of metal between the flanges cZ arebest adapted for use where relatively soft metal is employed, for eXample,-, in the making of plated clasps; whereas, the construction metalhas sufficientrigidity in itself, for example, hard, drawn-gold; The side element B shown in Figs. 9 and 1 0 is formed from a length of a stamping D included between the lines a: and 3 (F ig. 6) ,which lines, it will be noted, pass midway. between posts 6Z2. I-Iencewhen said lengthv of metal is folded into oblong or elliptical form, as. shown in Fig. 9, the two half posts at the ends of said strip are brought into abuttingrelation, as shown at z, to provide a post at the end of the major axis, as previously explained.

To constitute a clasp member of the type in question, two A elements and one B element are required. These are assembled in an appropriate die block in the relative arrangement as-shown in Fig. 11, namely, an element A is first inserted with its flanges a directed upwardly; into the shallow trough thus provided by the member A is inserted a-member B with the lower'flange .0? resting against the inner face of the member A; upon the member B is then placed a second member A with its flanges directed inwardly. When thus positioned, a holding die is brought down upon the assembled parts and a laterally movable swaging die is moved inwardly to swage or curl the flanges 0/, around the flanges d, thereby causing said flanges to interlock, as best shown in Figs. 13 and 14. It will be appreciated that if the clasp member is of different geometrical configuration from that herein shown. that the character of the flanges on saidmembersmay be varied in any manner as will satisfactorily parts thereof. Said figure also shows the hook-like snap link E, the arm 6 of which is first, threaded through the perforations adj acent to the end post d prior to inserting said link into the clasp member, so that the detents e on the'link will engage the posts d to latch said parts together- In use for supporting'a string of beads or the like, one end of the string issecured to the loop ring 0 on the link E, and the other end of the string is secured to a ring 6 engaging around the end post d opposite to the post through which the link isthreaded in a conventional manner.

In the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that I have provided a jewelry clasp member in which both the top and bottom elements are indistinguishable; one in which no soldering operation 1s required; one which is'more sturdy than constructions of a similar character heretofore proposed; and which can beeconomically manufactured.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown, since it will be understood that modifications thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of-theinvention. 1

What-I claim is:

1. A jewelry clasp or the like of the type comprising a box-like body member, said clasp body member having a top element, a bottom element and a spacing element having openings therein adapted to. receive a snap latch, said clasp elements beingseparately formed and held in assembled relation 3. A jewelry Clasp 0-1- the like of the I comprising a box-like body member having a perforated side walladapted to receive a snap latch, said clasp body member. having similar, separately formedtopand bottom elements and a side wall having continuous top and bottom edges, said top and bottom elements being connected respectively to the top and bottom continuous edges of the side Wall. In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS A. MOUNTFORD.

GERTEFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,814,486. Granted July 14, 1931, to

THOMAS A. MOUNTFORD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 31, before the word "metal" insert shown in Fig. 6 is employed where the; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

